The time is rapidly approaching. College basketball season is two weeks away and the anticipation is building. A solid showing in 2012-13 by members of the City 6 has built up high expectations for the 2013-14 season, so without further adieu, let's take a look at the Philadelphia basketball squads.
Drexel
The Dragons finished 27-6 in 2011-12 and had many up in arms after being snubbed from the tournament. The Dragons entered 2012-13 with high expectations and a chip on their shoulder, but the season turned out to be quite disappointing, as they finished the season with a 13-18 record.
Drexel enters 2013-14 with high expectations yet again, as the Dragons were picked to finish second in the CAA. The Dragons bring an experienced lineup to the court, as they are led by guards Frantz Massenat, Damion Lee and Chris Fouch. Fouch is coming off a season lost to injury, as the guard played only three games in 2012-13 before suffering a broken ankle. The veteran guard did average 16.7 points per game in his short action last season and the Dragons will look to him and their other guards as they try to make a run to the NCAA Tournament that they felt they belonged in two seasons ago.
Season opener: 11/8 @ UCLA
La Salle
The Explorers enter 2013-14 coming off a historic season for the program. La Salle finished the year 24-10 overall, making a run all the way to the Sweet Sixteen (which this guy right here had picked in his bracket, just saying). In a solid A-10 Conference, the Explorers have been predicted to finish third behind VCU and Saint Louis.
La Salle enters the season taking a big loss, as the Explorers lost Ramon Galloway to graduation. The Explorers will look to the guard combo of Tyreek Duren and Tyrone Garland to make up for the loss of Galloway's 17.2 points per game. With junior big men Jerrell Wright and Steve Zack to help balance out the Explorer lineup, it should be yet another memorable season for La Salle if things fall the way they should.
Season opener: 11/9 v. Manhattan
Villanova
Villanova comes off a 20-14 season in 2012-13 and will look to improve vastly on that record, with an impressive stock of talent on the roster. The Wildcats bring a nice mix of experience and youth to the court this season, as freshman forwards Kris Jenkins, Darryl Reynolds and guard Josh Hart join the squad.
The Wildcats return the talented guard combo of sophomore Ryan Arcidiacono and junior Darrun Hilliard to help guide the squad. While sophomore guard Dylan Ennis broke a bone in his shooting hand just days ago, which will cause him to miss a few weeks, the Wildcats look to have the depth to make up for the injury. Oh by the way, Villanova still has junior forward JayVaughn Pinkston who is coming off a season where he averaged 13.3 points per game, so yes, the Wildcats should have a pretty impressive season.
Season opener: 11/8 v. Lafayette
University of Pennsylvania
The 2012-13 season was forgettable to say the least for the University of Pennsylvania. The Quakers went just 9-22 on the season, but return all 15 players from a year ago. Penn adds five freshman to the mix, as they look to turn the program around.
In a conference that is far from a powerhouse in basketball, the Quakers were picked to finish second in the Ivy League behind defending champion Harvard. With another year under their belts, the Quakers should be improved from a season ago, the question is, how much?
Season opener: 11/9 v. Temple
Saint Joseph's
The Hawks suffered major disappointment in 2012-13, as they finished 18-14 in a season they returned all starters from a 20-13 squad in 2011-12. Saint Joseph's was the favorite to win the A-10 last season, but inconsistency and down play from team leaders saw a season lost.
The Hawks lost two starters, as guard Carl Jones finished up his time at SJU and big man C.J Aiken moved on to pursue professional opportunities. While those two losses sting, the Hawks do return Langston Galloway, Ronald Roberts, Jr. and other experienced members of the squad. With another year to grow and mature, this Hawks squad should look improved from a year ago. Picked to finish fifth in the A-10 this season, don't be surprised if SJU exceeds those expectations.
Season opener: 11/9 @ Vermont
Temple
A new season, a new conference. Temple, who joined what is now the American Athletic Conference, will look to grab the inaugural basketball title in the new league. The Owls are coming off a 24-10 season in 2012-13, their final season in the A-10.
Temple made the NCAA Tournament last season, winning one game before falling to Indiana. The Owls have been picked to finish fifth in the AAC this season, as they look to somehow replace the 20.5 points per game that guard Khalif Wyatt, who was recently released by the Sixers, averaged. Temple returns two starters from last year's squad, as they look to make their seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament. The consistent tournament threat of Philadelphia, the Owls will look to forward Anthony Lee for leadership as they attempt to make waves in 2013-14.
Season opener: 11/9 @ Penn
Broad Street Beat Preseason City 6 Rankings:
1. Villanova
2. La Salle
3. Drexel
4. Saint Joseph's
5. Temple
6. University of Pennsylvania
By: Kyle Babcock
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat
The Dragons finished 27-6 in 2011-12 and had many up in arms after being snubbed from the tournament. The Dragons entered 2012-13 with high expectations and a chip on their shoulder, but the season turned out to be quite disappointing, as they finished the season with a 13-18 record.
Drexel enters 2013-14 with high expectations yet again, as the Dragons were picked to finish second in the CAA. The Dragons bring an experienced lineup to the court, as they are led by guards Frantz Massenat, Damion Lee and Chris Fouch. Fouch is coming off a season lost to injury, as the guard played only three games in 2012-13 before suffering a broken ankle. The veteran guard did average 16.7 points per game in his short action last season and the Dragons will look to him and their other guards as they try to make a run to the NCAA Tournament that they felt they belonged in two seasons ago.
Season opener: 11/8 @ UCLA
La Salle
The Explorers enter 2013-14 coming off a historic season for the program. La Salle finished the year 24-10 overall, making a run all the way to the Sweet Sixteen (which this guy right here had picked in his bracket, just saying). In a solid A-10 Conference, the Explorers have been predicted to finish third behind VCU and Saint Louis.
La Salle enters the season taking a big loss, as the Explorers lost Ramon Galloway to graduation. The Explorers will look to the guard combo of Tyreek Duren and Tyrone Garland to make up for the loss of Galloway's 17.2 points per game. With junior big men Jerrell Wright and Steve Zack to help balance out the Explorer lineup, it should be yet another memorable season for La Salle if things fall the way they should.
Season opener: 11/9 v. Manhattan
Villanova
Villanova comes off a 20-14 season in 2012-13 and will look to improve vastly on that record, with an impressive stock of talent on the roster. The Wildcats bring a nice mix of experience and youth to the court this season, as freshman forwards Kris Jenkins, Darryl Reynolds and guard Josh Hart join the squad.
The Wildcats return the talented guard combo of sophomore Ryan Arcidiacono and junior Darrun Hilliard to help guide the squad. While sophomore guard Dylan Ennis broke a bone in his shooting hand just days ago, which will cause him to miss a few weeks, the Wildcats look to have the depth to make up for the injury. Oh by the way, Villanova still has junior forward JayVaughn Pinkston who is coming off a season where he averaged 13.3 points per game, so yes, the Wildcats should have a pretty impressive season.
Season opener: 11/8 v. Lafayette
University of Pennsylvania
The 2012-13 season was forgettable to say the least for the University of Pennsylvania. The Quakers went just 9-22 on the season, but return all 15 players from a year ago. Penn adds five freshman to the mix, as they look to turn the program around.
In a conference that is far from a powerhouse in basketball, the Quakers were picked to finish second in the Ivy League behind defending champion Harvard. With another year under their belts, the Quakers should be improved from a season ago, the question is, how much?
Season opener: 11/9 v. Temple
Saint Joseph's
The Hawks suffered major disappointment in 2012-13, as they finished 18-14 in a season they returned all starters from a 20-13 squad in 2011-12. Saint Joseph's was the favorite to win the A-10 last season, but inconsistency and down play from team leaders saw a season lost.
The Hawks lost two starters, as guard Carl Jones finished up his time at SJU and big man C.J Aiken moved on to pursue professional opportunities. While those two losses sting, the Hawks do return Langston Galloway, Ronald Roberts, Jr. and other experienced members of the squad. With another year to grow and mature, this Hawks squad should look improved from a year ago. Picked to finish fifth in the A-10 this season, don't be surprised if SJU exceeds those expectations.
Season opener: 11/9 @ Vermont
Temple
A new season, a new conference. Temple, who joined what is now the American Athletic Conference, will look to grab the inaugural basketball title in the new league. The Owls are coming off a 24-10 season in 2012-13, their final season in the A-10.
Temple made the NCAA Tournament last season, winning one game before falling to Indiana. The Owls have been picked to finish fifth in the AAC this season, as they look to somehow replace the 20.5 points per game that guard Khalif Wyatt, who was recently released by the Sixers, averaged. Temple returns two starters from last year's squad, as they look to make their seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament. The consistent tournament threat of Philadelphia, the Owls will look to forward Anthony Lee for leadership as they attempt to make waves in 2013-14.
Season opener: 11/9 @ Penn
Broad Street Beat Preseason City 6 Rankings:
1. Villanova
2. La Salle
3. Drexel
4. Saint Joseph's
5. Temple
6. University of Pennsylvania
By: Kyle Babcock
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat
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